NEW YORK (STATE) (see ). The pop. of the state was
10,385,227 in 1920 as compared with 9,113,614 in 1910, a gain
of 14% or 0.9% less than that for the United States. The
average pop. per sq. m. in 1920 was 217.9 as compared with
191.2 in 1910 and 152.5 in 1900. In 1920 the urban pop. (in cities
with 2,500 or more inhabitants) was 8,589,844 or 82.7% and the
rural pop. 1,795,383 or 17.3 per cent.
The cities having a pop. of over 20,000 in 1920, and their
percentage of increase 1910-20, are as follows:—
Government.—Although the constitution adopted in 1894 has
been frequently amended, the government of New York underwent
no fundamental alterations between 1910 and 1921. The
most important change was the adoption in 1917 of the woman
suffrage amendment. The Constitutional Convention of 1915
adopted far-reaching changes in organization, but all its
proposals were disapproved by the electorate. The number of
administrative boards and commissions has been greatly increased
as the activities of the state have been extended into new fields. In 1919 these agencies, according to the governor's Reconstruction Commission, numbered 187. One of the pressing reforms
advocated both by the Constitutional Convention and by the
Reconstruction Commission was the reorganization of these
miscellaneous administrative agencies into a smaller number of
coördinated departments under the governor's control. Another
movement was directed toward the establishment of an executive
budget system. Neither of these reforms was adopted. One of
the most important changes in local government was the adoption
by the Legislature of an optional charter law for cities.
History.—On Oct. 6 1910 Gov. Charles E. Hughes resigned to
accept a position as associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was succeeded by Horace White, the lieutenant-governor. Among the outstanding accomplishments of Gov. Hughes's term of office may be mentioned: the enactment of a progressive inheritance tax law; the creation of a Public Service Commission with large powers; the passage of a law prohibiting race-track gambling; and the strengthening of the state child labour laws. Gov. Hughes had persistently advocated the enactment of a thoroughgoing direct primary law, but because of the opposition of the leaders of his party to this reform, the convention system survived his term of office and furnished one of the most important issues of state politics throughout the following decade. In the elections of Nov. 1910 the Democrats elected not only the governor, John A. Dix, and the other state officers, but also a majority of the state Legislature. Dix received 689,700 votes; Stimson, his Republican opponent, 622,299.
In the autumn elections of 1912 the Democrats carried the
state. The vote for president was: Wilson, Democrat, 655,573; Taft, Republican, 455,487; Roosevelt, Progressive, 390,093; the vote for governor was: Sulzer, Democrat, 649,559; Hedges, Republican, 444,105; Straus, Progressive, 393,183. The Democrats elected a majority in both Houses of the state Legislature. The newly-elected governor was inaugurated Jan. 1 1913. He had for many years received the support of Tammany Hall, first as a member of the Assembly and then for 18 years as congressman.
The elections of Nov. 1913 resulted in an overwhelming
defeat for Tammany. William Sulzer, nominated by the
Progressives of the Sixth Assembly District in New York City, was
elected by a large majority over his Democratic and Republican
opponents. Many Democratic assemblymen who had
previously voted for his impeachment were defeated.
In the autumn elections of 1914 the Republican party was
successful. The vote for governor was: Whitman, Republican, 686,701; Glynn, Democrat, 541,269. The new Legislature was strongly Republican in both branches. Of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, 116 were Republicans, 52 Democrats.
The outstanding event of 1915 was the Constitutional
Convention, which met at Albany on April 6 and lasted until Sept. 10. Elihu Root was chosen president. Although the proposed new constitution embodied many highly desirable reforms it was overwhelmingly rejected by the voters at the Nov. election. The vote was: for the constitution, 400,423; against, 910,462. Two amendments, relating to legislative apportionment and to